Living the Covenant - Wesly's "quadrilatral"

John Wesley started his career as a minister with an emphasis on strict interpretation of rules, and that ministry was not very successful. One evening coming home from a prayer meeting, Wesley had a moment of epiphany in which he reports “his heart was strangely warmed,” and he realized the depth of God’s grace. He realized it was grace, not rule following, that allows us to draw close to God.  Grace is a total gift, it cannot be earned and cannot be lost, it can only be accepted. That realization, known as the Aldersgate experience, was to change Wesley, and the future of Protestantism.

Wesley devised a method to enable others to come to know this incredible gift of grace.  His followers so diligently followed the method that they came to be known as Methodists, and the name has stuck for several hundred years. The basics of the Methodist lifestyle are outlined in the vows Methodists take when joining the church, to uphold the church by our prayers, presence, gifts,  service and witness that in everything God may be glorified.  

Wesley also devised ways of evaluating actions and beliefs to keep Methodists on track. Modern theologians have referred to this method as the Wesleyian Quadrilateral.  Scripture refers to the words of the Bible, the basis for Christian thought. Scripture is the authority on which all things are based.